A hodgepodge of thoughts, ideas and the reality of life.

“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” ~Robert Lynd~ I’m as silent as I can be watching birds in a nearby tree So close and so near I can’t reach, though, I fear They delight in loudly mocking me I’m as still as I can be watching those damn birds flee I haven’t moved an inch At the window’s fringe I shall have one soon, I decree I’m no longer patient, youRead more

Ye lads and lassies… It’s The Green Day. March 17th. The Feast of St. Patrick. The day when everyone is Irish. What does The Green Day conjure up in my mind? Corned beef and cabbage, or “boiled dinner” as my German parents called this dish. It’s a favorite once-a-year treat and I’m trying to figure out where I’m going to go to get me some for dinner. Green beer and a green river in Chicago. “No” to the green beerRead more

“If you really want to do it, you do it. There are no excuses.” ~Bruce Nauman~ I saw it in the catalog several weeks ago The course made me stop and pause A chance to explore this writing genre Give boost to the improvement cause I thought about it on and off Questioned if I had the time Came up with a few more excuses To not engage in the rhyme But it nagged and nagged and nagged ThatRead more

So far, it’s been quite the week for her. As of early Monday morning, March 5th, 2018, it hit without much warning. She knew she was in trouble, but not to what extent. It didn’t seem quite so powerful then, certainly not enough to keep her home from work. On Monday afternoon, trouble grew. Into tiredness, inability to think, her chest tightening,a cough developing. Quitting time became an hour before quitting time. That’s all she wrote. In her mind, she’dRead more

“The main goal in my life is to make extraordinary things out of the ordinary.” ~Vittorio Grigolo~ I was at a women’s conference at my church this past Saturday. The main speaker, who lives in Myanmar, related a story about how something very ordinary to us became very extraordinary to her young son. It seems that upon visiting grandma and grandpa in the United States for the first time, a red spatula came out of the drawer and the youngRead more

Sunday is as Sunday does A beautiful gift from God above Placid waters and winter’s wheaty grass Wondering if the attempt of warmth will last Sunday is at it rests upon wooden bench While rejuvenation seeks to be quenched Take in the view, smell coming of spring Listen to geese upon their honking wing Sunday is as one day in time It’s cool, calm energy feels sublime A walk along it’s graceful edge Removes the cobwebs from life’s head SundayRead more

This guy. Doesn’t always know when to shut up. He is the most talkative, boisterous cat that has ever owned me. Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow. The reason for the non-stop cat calling? Not sure, but I have a few guesses: I’m hungry Pet me I’m hungry Love me I’m hungry Pay attention to me You’re home now, which means I’m hungry Play with me I’m hungry Are you eating without me? I’m hungry Is NatashaRead more

This door I walk through every week It is her petite figure I seek Sleeping in a brown broda chair Wrinkly forehead under gray hair I say, “Hello, mom, how are you?” She says, “Who are you?” I tell her my name is Mary but she seems a bit wary It goes back and forth most days This unknowing haze Am I sister or daughter? Is it March or October? This door leads to Pauline The Energizer Bunny machine StillRead more

For this month’s We are the World Blogfest, I found a circle of good news – not only in a branch of Goodwill Industries, but also in a retired State employee who helps former inmates successfully transition into the community. From our local Fox station: Former Probation Officer Volunteering in Same Circles “They’ve done their sentence and they’re coming back to the community,” says Miller. “They’re needing to re-establish relationships with family, employment, residence, and I think the community volunteersRead more

“Food is not rational. Food is culture, habit, craving and identity.” ~Jonathan Safran Foer~ Steak and potatoes are culture Smoky, charred, creamy and pure Eaten by a hungry human vulture Chocolate is serious habit That demands a daily hit or she shall have a crying fit Mac and cheese is a bowl of craving This affliction needs saving Of thee melty cheddar we sing Food is part of our identity We consume pancakes with glee To eat, to drink, toRead more

“U really got to work on that voice recognition thing.” This is what Natasha texted to me after I sent her the following nonsense: “I talked to the vet, who tried to talk me into that can to crap they sell. After The Liberation, he said chicken and rice was okay and defeat it to him for a week.” Gibbs was having issues with diarrhea and I had made a call to the vet. My next text clarified: “Canned crap.Read more

“This is a story of two tails Who try to be tough as nails…” Ummmm…mom? Yes Gibbs? Are you writing poetry again? Why yes I am. It’s for Linda Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Aren’t you a little late? You usually write on Friday night when you’re not feeding me and doing laundry. Yeah, well I was busy yesterday. Busy? You came home early on Friday. And then I left again. Ziva and I were wondering about that. I mean,Read more